Office-directory



lv(No Model.) y I 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

W. W. 1 0WERS. OFFICE DI-REGTORY No. 573,354.' Y Patented Dec. 15, 1896.,

(No Manel.) f 2 sheets-sheet 2f W.- W. POWERS.

' OFPIGB DIRBGTORY. l No. 573,354. Patentedne.- 15 1896...;

am i z a; LNXQW` l UNITED STATES PATENT EEIOE.

WALTER wrowERs,y or ROOIAIEsTER, NEw YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part ef Letier'eratent No. 573,354, dei-.ea neeemieein 15, i896.

Application led October 4,1895. `Serial No. 564,660. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. POWERS,

of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in the` State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Office-Directories, `of

which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,`

and exact description. p

This `invention relates to improvements in `indicators or directories particularly applicable for use in office-buildings and similar, places, and has for its object the production of a simple and practical device which presents a pleasing appearance and permits of ready and economical change and rearrangepart of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a face view of my improved indicator or directory. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken'on line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an `isometric view of a portion of the main body or support of the indicator or directory and a number of display-pieces operatively enp gaged therewith. Fig. 4 is an enlarged trans verse section showing one of the display-pieces and the adjacent portion ofthe inner division of said body or support, the display-pieces being also indicated by dotted lines as disengaged from said division. Fig. 5 is an isometric View of a detached portion of the main body or support of the indicator or directory, illustrating partieularlyone of its transverse bars. Fig. 6 is a face View of a detached portion of the metallic plate secured to said body or support. Fig. 7 is a face View of a portion of the blank from which one of the vertical division-bars' of said metallic plate is formed.` Figs. 8, 9, and l0 are isometric views showing portions of modified constructions of main bodies or supports for my invention; and Fig. ll is an isometric view of a portion of a modified construction of one of the vertical division-bars of my improved indicator or directory. y I

A represents a main body or support, which .may be of any desirable form, size, and construction, and is mounted in any suitableposition. Said body or support preferably consists of an outer division a, provided with a central aperture aiand having its front face formed with rabbets or grooves a3, extending from the edgesof the aperture a2, and an inner. division a', removably arranged in the aperture a2 and secured in position by any salita-ble means, as movable fastening-pieces a.

of a rear plate a5, formed witha recess a in its front face, and a removable front plate a7, composed of metal or other similar material and provided with vertical and transverse se ries of perforations as co9, opening into the recess d, suitable engaging shoulders,presently described, projecting laterally one above the other from its front face, and rearwardly-projecting edges al, lapped upon the edges of the plate ai.

. The engaging shoulders of the plate al are usually arranged in columns, and are preferably formed upon vertical division-bars B, projecting from the front face of said plate.

-The bars B are usually composed of metal- Vand their opposite edges are provided with rearwardly-extending shoulders b b and interposed perforations or slots b2. The rear or end edges of the shoulders b are arranged in close proximity to the front face of the plate a7, and the rearends of the shoulders which are suitably elongated, are passed through the adjacent vertical series of perforations as into the recess a6 and are lapped upon the rear face of the plate a7.

The upper and lower ends of the vertical bars B are preferably connected by transverse bars B', provided with shoulders or arms b3, which are passed through the transverse series of perforations a9 into the recess a and are lapped upon the rear face of the plate a7.

C C are the display-pieces of my improved indicator or support, which may be of any desirable form, size, and construction, although they are preferably composed of flexible bars or strips formed of paper or other suitable material. Said displaypieces are formed with substantially parallel longitudinal edges preferably arranged in close proximity to eachother, as clearly seen at Figs. l

The inner division a' preferably consists.

and 3, and their opposite ends c are reduced in Width and are inserted into the perforations or slots b2 and engaged with the shoulders b b. The display-pieces are thus positively and independently held in their designed position and, being formed of flexible material, may be readily bent, as indicated at Fig. 4, so as to facilitate their seeurement and removal. Suitable display matter is placed upon the pieces C, and any desired one may be readily removed and replaced by another Without effecting disarrangement of the others.

A suitable cover D, formed with a central transparent portion d, is supported at the outside of the display-pieces C, and its edges are arranged in the rabbets or grooves d3. This cover greatly adds to the appearance of my invention and may be readily Withdrawn from operative position for permitting removal or rearrangement of the display-pieces G. One of the edges of the cover is preferably provided with hinges d and its opposite edge with a lock cl2, the construction of which it is unnecessary to herein illustrate or describe.

The construction of the shoulders, previously described, for engaging the displaypieces may be considerably varied, and at Figs. 8, 0, and l0 I have shown plates d20 e30 0,40,provided,1espectively,with integral shoulders am, outWardly-extending loops ai, and perforations d, with which are engaged the ends of display-pieces C"20 C30 C40. I have also shown at Fig. 1l a modified construction of vertical rib B10, having its opposite edges provided With shoulders Z110 of uniform length and its central portion provided With rearwardlyprojecting sleeves bu, through which suitable fastening-screws (not illustrated) may be passed.

The operation of my invention will be Areadily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying' drawings, and it will be particularly noted that it presents a pleasing appearance, is economical in manufacture, and facilita-tes change or rcarrangement of its display matter. It is obviens, however, that the exact detail construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved indicator or directory may be somewhat changed Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and consequently l do not herein specifically limit myself to such exact detail construction and arrangement.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is"

l. In an indicator or directory, the combination of a support provided with engaging shoulders projecting laterally one above the other from its front face, and flexible display-pieces independently supported by the engaging shoulders, said display-pieces being arranged one above the other with their longitudinal edges in close proximity and having their opposite ends formed of reduced Width and engaged with said shoulders, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an indicator or directory, the combination of a support, division-bars detachably secured to the front face of said support and provided with engaging shoulders projecting laterally one above the other from the front face of said support, and iiexible displaypieces independently supported by the en-` gaging shoulders, said display-pieces being arranged one above the other with their longitudinal edges in close proximity and having their opposite ends formed of reduced Width and engaged with said shoulders, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In an indicator or directory, the combination of a support consisting of an outer division provided With a central aperture, an inner division removably supported in the aperture, division-bars secured to the front face of said support and provided With engaging shoulders projecting laterally one above the other from the front face of said support, and iiexible display pieces independently supported by the engaging shoulders, said display-pieces being arranged one above the other with their longitudinal edges in close proximity and having their opposite ends formed of reduced Width and engaged with said shoulders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4t. In an indicator or directory, the combination of a support formed with a series of perforations, a division-bar provided with a series of separated shoulders, a number of said shoulders being formed with elongated ends arranged in the pcrforations, and display-pieces having corresponding ends engagedwith the shoulders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an indicator or directory, the combination of a support formed with transverse and vertical series of perforations as a9, vertical bars B having their opposite edges provided With lateral shoulders l) arranged with their rear or end edges in close proximity to the adjacent face of the support, and lateral shoulders L formed With elongated end-s passed through the pcrforations @transverse bars B/ provided with lateral shoulders or arms b3 arranged in the perforations d, and iiexible display-pieces C arranged one above the other between the bars B B and having their ends c of reduced Width and engaged with the shoulders b Z1', substantially as set forth.

G. In an indicator or directory, the combination of a support formed with transverse and vertical series of perforations es a9, vertical bars B having their opposite edges provided with lateral shoulders l) arranged With their rear or end edges in close proximity to the adjacent face of the support, and lateral shoulders b formed with elongated ends passed through the perforations 0,8, transverse bars B provided with lateral shoulders or arms b3 arrangedin the perforations a9, flexi- IIO ble display-pieces C arranged one above the other between the bars B B and having their ends c reduced in width and engaged with the shoulders b ZJ', and a movable door D secured to the main body or support and arranged in front of the display-pieces, substantially as and for vthe purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting Witnesses, at Rochester, in the county of 1o Monroe, in the State of New York, this 4th day of September, 1895.

WALTER XV. POWERS.

Witnesses:

GEO. KING, HAMPDEN HYDE. 

